Card-printing attachment for marking-machines.



I.. H. HAYS & A. R. CURTIS. CARD PRINTING ATIACHIVIENT FOR MARKING MACHINES. APPLICATION man MAY 11. una.

1,295,745, Patented Feb., 25,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- Zai/Lewes; ffy/v wbms. @j da c' L. H.. HMS aL AR.'CURT1S. Y CARD PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR MARKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAQY 1.1. 1916.

i,gf. Patented. Feb. 25, 1919.

' i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, L.H.HAYS&A.R.CURTIS. CARD PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR MARKING' MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II, I9I6`.

Patente Feb. 25, 12H9.

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' Unirnn srnifnsfA PATENT orrrcn LOUIS H. HAYS A 'ND ARTHUR R. CURTIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

' CARD-PRINTING ATTACHMENT FOR MARKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

applicati@ inea May 11, 191e. serial No. 96,876.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, Louis H. HAYs and ARTHUR R. CURTIS, citizens of the United States, and residents of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio', have invented a certain new and useful Card- Printing Attachment for Marking-Machines, of which the following is a specilication.

In the art of laundry marking machines, it has been customary to provide type wheels so arranged that the wheels may be turned to present the selected type thereon toprinting position, and then to move the type wheels downwardly and forwardly to Vengage the articles to be printed on between the type wheels and a stationary platen.

The objects of our invention are to provide a4 device inthe nature of an attachment of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, that may readily, quickly and easily be applied to a laundry marking machine for the purpose of retaining a large number of cards, tags or the like, and for utilizing the movement of the type wheels for the purpose of removing these cards or tags one at a time from-the magazine or container and placing them over the stationary platen and there holding them stationary while the type wheels complete the last part of their operative movement and make an impression upon the card.

A further object is l to provide means whereby the movement of the type wheels toward the platen may` be utilized in advancing a card to printing position and at vthe same time utilize this card advancing means for the purpose of holding the card stationary during the instant when the printing operation is being accomplished.

A further object is to provide an improved card retaining magazine of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and to provide spring actuated bearing pieces to coperate with the sliding member that advances the cards to thereby hold these parts so close together as to avoid the possibility of portions of the thin cards entering between the sliding plate and the magazine frameafter lthe parts have become A further object is to provide an adjustable and detachable card stop shaped to litl the contour of the cards being used, whereby the device may be adjusted to print upon any selected portion of the card.

A further object is to provide improved' means for automatically removing the card after it has been printed upon, and, depositing the same in a suitable receptacle..

Our invention consists in the construction` arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter V,more fully set forth, pointed out in our'claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'which:

Figure l shows a side elevation of a part of a laundry marking machine equipped with a. card holding and feeding device embodying ourvinvention. i

Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the card holding and feeding mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view of the Sallie.

portion. of the card handling mechanism,

and

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged detail,`sectional Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal, vertical, sec-A tional viewv through the card handlingratentedireb.a5`,1919. Y

view illustrating the bearing devices of the magazine upon the main frame. y y

In the exemplification of our invention,

illustrated in the drawings herewith, we have employed the reference numeral l1 to indicate generally part of the supporting frame of a laundry marking machine, which .may

be similar to that now manufactured by the National Marking Machine VCompany of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the patent to ,Ca-

nine, No. 1,059,659, issued April 22,1913.

Mounted on the support l1 is a movable i type carrying means`l2, carrying the type Mounted on the main frame.; of` the marking machine, and l preferably detach- 1 able therefrom is a supportlO. AnotherI frame member v1% 1s formed on or connected.`

Vments in position with the support 10. The frame members 10 and 14 support the frame members 15 of the card handling and feeding mechanism.

rlhis type carrying means'12, when in operation, Fig. 1 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, and when in the latter position the type wheels coact with the platen 3f to print upon -the article held on the platen. Y

yIn order to utilize the movement of this type carrying meansV 12 for the purpose of feeding cards or tags from a magazine-:so that they may be printed upon by the type wheels, we have provided a suitable magazine and operating mechanism therefor as follows: The frame member 15 is detachably mounted upon the support 10 of the marking machine. On top of the frame member 15 is the supporting base or platform 16 of the card magazineand feeding device. This base or platform has a transversely extended guide member 17 provided with the upright guide ribs 18 at its edges. Slidingly mounted on the guide 17 is the magazine indicated generally'by the reference numeral 19, and containing one or more Vseparate compartments. Iny the present instance three `are shown. r1`he interior of each compartment is shaped to fit the partioularcards or tags intended to be used. The compartments of this magazine are indicated by the numeral 16. At the bottom of the magazine 19 are flanges 21 which engage the guides 18 to prevent forward or rearward movement of the magazine. In order to secure the magazine in position with either' one of its compartto deliver cards to be printed upon, we have provided a spring 25 fixed at one end to the guide 18 and having its other end in engagement with a ball 24. which ball eXtends'throughan opening 22 in the guide 18 and is capable of partially -ingly mounted in sai d entering a notch 22 in the flange 21. A suitable number of these notches 22 are provided, so that when the magazine is moved laterally in its guide it will be locked and held in position with 'any one of the compartments 20 lin position to deliver cards to the printing mechanism.V

In order to remove the lower card from the compartment of the magazine that is over the center of the device, the platform 16 is provided' with two guides 26, and slidguides is a card carrying platforml 28 having at its rearward end a depression in which is a detachable plate 30 which maybe changed to allow for different thicknesses of cards. Below the center of the detachable .plate 30 is a downwardly extended shoulder 31, which -is dey Ytoward the marking machine at anr angle` signed when2 the slidin'gplatform '28 is at its rearward limit of movement. to engage and rest upon the platen 34 of the laundry markingmachine, as illustratedin Fig. 5.

moves from the position shown inv engaged Adjacent to the forward edge of the detachable plate 30 is a detachable metal bar 29, the shape of which may be made to conform to the shape of the adjacent edge'of' the cards being printed upon. The magazine itself'with its three compartments is preferably cast complete of a single piece of aluminum or other metal.

It is desirable in a machine of this kind to provide means for preventing the Asliding platform 2S from wearing away the lower surface of the card magazine, and it is Valso desirable that the lower surface of the card magazine fits tightly at all times against the top of the sliding platform. For this purpose l have provided the structure illustrated in Fig. 7, and which consists of a' steel plate BA1 adj ustably supported by screws 34h at one side edge of the card magazinel At the bottom of the cardv magazine at this same edge is a hardened steel plate 34C, which stands spaced apart from the sliding platform 28 a distance corresponding to the` thickness of one card, and the steel plate 34 projects below the plate 34. r1`he central ones of the partitions inthe magazine have hardened steel'l plates 34C and a central hardened steel plate 3&1, the latter being held downwardly by the spring 34f. The inner faces of the plates 341 and 34d are shaped to conform to thev contour'of the card being printed upon, and the plates 34a and 34C are designed to be engaged by the extreme end projections of thecards. By thisA arrangement the weight of the magazine always holds the ends plates 31Min frictionaly engagement springV 3412 so vthat after considerable use Vthe parts will not be greatly worn, and th'e'wear that ltakes place willy be compensatedl for by the weight ofthe magazine and said spring.

By the arrangement `just described, it is obvious tha-'t when the card magazine isflille'd with cardsl and the sliding platform is moved rearwardly the card that rests directly upon the detachable plate 30' will beI by the steelplate 29 and moved rearwardly to positionz to be printed upoir.

It is desirable in aV machine of this kind .have devised the following mechanism:

Formed on; the lower central portion ofthe sliding platform 28 are two downwardly extending arms 45 and 46, the-lower end of with the sliding platform by the Y lll) the arm46 being inclined downwardly and of about forty-five degrees. Between these, arms and-*116 is a shaft 114 fixed to the crank arm 43, which in turn is fixed to the connectedby a rod 42 with the frame 12 ofY theY type wheels. The said shaft 44 is pro- Y vided with a flat face V48. These parts are so Varranged and proportioned that when the frame 12 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, the Shaft 44 and the adjacent parts are inthe position shown lin Fig. 4. Then when the frame 12 of the type wheels is at its downward limit of movement, the shaft 44 and adjacent parts will be in the position shown inFig. 5. That is to say, the entire sliding yplatform will have been moved to itsrrearward limit, andl when it reaches its rearward movement the fiat face 48 will have engaged the inclined surface of the arm 45 thus holding the sliding platform in stationary position, or at least preventing it from further rearward movement during the last part of the rearward movement of the shaft 44. When in the position shown in Fig. 5 these parts serve to positively prevent forward movement or rebound of they sliding platform. Then when theshaft 44 moves forwardly it willmove without moving the sliding platform until the shaft 44 strikes the arm 46. By this arrangement it is obvious that this printing device may be operated at relatively highv speed and the card to be printedY on and the sliding platform which supports it will all remain stationary for the instant during which the lprinting is being accomi' plished, thus avoiding the possibility of blurring in printing fromgthe type when the cards are in contactwithit.

After the eard'has. been printedupon, wel

have provided meansfcr removin it-from Ythe sliding platform` as follows: ounted upon the rear guide V18 at its central portion, are vtwo card eject-ing pins 35 with their lower ends beveled or inclined downwardly and rearwardly, which ejecting pins are adjustably supportedV by the set screws 36. The cards rest upon the detachable plate 30, and when there is no pressure on the top of the cards a card will expand enough-to project the forward edge ofthe card slightly above the plate 29. reaches the ejecting pins 35 these pins will engage the forward edge of the card and upon further forward movement of the sliding` platform the card will be held stationary until the card platform moves forwardly from beneath the card. In order to tiltvtlie card downwardly at one end so that it may slide downwardlyintothe delivery chute hereinafter described, we have provided a card striker device 37 Xed tothe chute39 Yin the position shown in Fig. 3. When the card drops the one end immediately strikes this horizontalv wire, compelling the card to turn aboutrthis wire as a hinge, preventing the. card from `flopping Then when-the card around and dropping into the y'chutein an irregular manner, whereupon the card will drop into the chute 39 and be conducted through this chutel to the card receptacle 14V Y ywhere the cards may be held until it is desired to remove them.

At the rear of the stationary frame member 26 is a stop device for the sliding platform, consisting of a pad 47 made of leather or other suitable yielding materiaal, and above this stop device is a card stop 51 detachably and adj ustably mounted thereonv by the set screws 49 in the slots 50. VThe card stop is shaped to conform to the edge of the card to be printed upon.

In practical use the device may obviously be readily, quickly and easily attached to or removed from the laundry marking machine, so that the laundry marking machine may Vbe used for its ordinary purpose and then ment this movement is accurately timed v.

without any possibility of getting out of step with the type wheels, because` it is directly connectedy withV vthe movable type wheel frame and is operated thereby, thus;

making a very simple and effective operatprinting attachment.

ing means for the card that our improved.

It is obvious further means for temporarily holding the cardto Y befprinted on in a stationary positionvat theY movement of the printing impact is very simple and inexpensive and eflicient,"for even if the sliding platform moves at 'a high rate of speed and strikes with considerable force upon the leather sliding platform f stop at the rear, there can be no reboundbecause the shaft-44 and the arm 45 Yare in engagement with each other in the manner shown in Fig. 5.y

in a machine of this kind, it is alsofdesirable to have the article that is being printed upon placed upon a yielding cushion or platen. In our iingrovementl we have pro-v vided thc detachable plateBO for this Ypur- 'iis Y pose, and in addition to the detachable plate 30 the rear end of the sliding plat-forni has the lug Bise arrangedcthat it will engage and rest upon the yielding* plates 34 ofthe izo printing machinednring the moment of the printing impact, thus providing additional leiding support for the card being printed on. have alie so ccnstructedand dcsigned the entire device that it is` of eX- tremely simple construction, and theparts that come in contact with the cards andthat steel plates and are so arranged that .any

are subjectedgto wear, are made of hardened wear thatmight take placeis, readily compensated for.

We claim as our invention:

l. ln ay device of the-class described, the combination with-a marking machine having a movable type carrying member capable of movement to printing position, of a card magazine, a sliding member capable of removinga card from the magazine to print- -ing position, arms spaced apart from each other and extending downwardly from said sliding member, one of said arms being provided with a beveled or inclined portion, a shaft rotatably supported, a crank arm fixed to said shaft, a shaft carried by the crank arm and extended between said spaced arms, and provided with a flat portion to coact with said beveled or inclined portion when the sliding member is moved to printing position, a second crank arm on the crankshaft, and a rod connecting it with the movable type carrying frame.

2. In a device ot the class described, the combination of a card magazine containing a number of'compartments, a sliding mem- .ber to move under the card magazine, and means for compensating` for Wear between the card magazine and the sliding member, said means comprising a hardened metal 30 plate at one side of the magazine to engage the sliding'member, and a movable spring actuated hardened plate betwen the ends ot the card magazine to extend downwardly with its lower end in engagement with the sliding member whereby the weight of the card magazine will hold the outer hardened plate to position and the intermediate hardened plate will be heldto position by spring pressure.

3. The combination with a marking Inachine comprising a frame, carried by the frame, and type'capable oi' movement toward and from the platen, ot' a card` printing frame designed to be detachably secured to the marking machine frame, a card receptacle in the card printing frame, and a combined card holder and card platen in the card arintino frame slidino'lvv .mounted for movev ment from position below the card receptaclel for receiving a card, to position above and resting upon the yielding platen of the marking machine, whereby printing may be eiiected upon a card carried by the card holding platen, and the platen of the markingmacliine will coact therewith in providing a yielding'support for the card platen when in printing position. i

4.1 The combination with a marking macarried by the frame, and type capable of movement'` towardv and Jfrom the platen, .of

a card printing attachment comprising a trame designed to be detachably secu-red to tio the marking machine frame, a card recepa yielding platen Y attachment comprising a position,

chine comprising a frame, a yielding platentacle in the card printing frame, acombinedcard holder and card platen inthe card printing Jrrame slidingly mounted for movement from position Vbelow theA card receptacle for receiving acard, to position above and resting upon the yielding platen of the marking machine, whereby printing may be effected vupon--acard carried'by the' card holding platen, and the platen ofthe marking machinewill coacttherewith in providing.` a yielding-support for the cardv platen when in printing position', and means connected withfthe movable type ofthe' printing machina-for eifecting a--sliding movement ofthe card platen in:contormancefwith the movement of the type.

5. n a device of the class described, a fra-me having a pair of transverseguides anda pair of longitudinal guides formed therein, the trame having a row of depressions ytermed therein parallel with and adjacent to the longitudinal guides, a platen adapted to reciprocate in the transverse guides, a magazine comprising plural compartments adapted |to reciprocate in the longitudinal guides, a laterally projecting lug tixed to; the` magazine having an openingtherein adaptedto register successively with each of said depressions in the -frame when' the magazine is reciprocated on the guides, a `ball-loosely received in said openingfand adapted to partially enter said depressions when theopening registers therewith, and meansfor yieldingly pressing said hall downwardly. v

6. Inma device of the class described, a "ame, a magazine mounted thereon, a movable member-adapted at'the forward limit or itsrmovement to receive av card yfrom the magazine and 'at the rearward limit to present the card toV a type carrying frame v'for printing, a vertically adjustable 'rod mounted on the trame'above thevpathVA of the movable" member and between lits receiving and printing positions, saidfrod having its lower endbeveled upwardly and forwardly. Y

Tfln a device of the class'described, a trame, a `movable member adaptedto reciprocate tl'1erein,a`magazine mounted on the" frame with the receptacle'therein above the movable 'member when at the Jforward limitot its movement, -a plate detachably fixed to the movable member and'adaptedto form a shoulder thereon which registers with the 'forward edge ot the magazine receptacle when said movable'member is in its-forward and a second plate detachably fixed to the frame and havingitstorward edgeV adapted tol abut against the rear edgek of the card being-.printed when the movable. memberis at the rearward limit of its movement 8.'nfa device. ofthe class described, a'

able member adapted `to receive: a card from the magazine When in one position and to said second plate being sol placed on the 10 present the card for printing whenV in anframe that the longitudinal edges of the other position, a plate detaehafbly ixed to card will abut against the correspondingly the movable member and forming a shoulder shaped edge of the plates When the movable thereon adapted to conform to the contour member is in printing position.

of one edge of the card being printed, and a Des Moines, Iowa, February 23,A 1915. second plate detachably fixed to the frame and having one edge adapted to conform to LOUIS H. HAY-S.

the contour of the other edge of the card7 ARTHUR R. CURTIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

